A Banker, A Long-Distance Love And Birth Of An Iconic Manoj Kumar Song
Veteran Bollywood actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, also known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ died at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Friday (April 4). He was 87 years old. He was known for his roles in patriotic films such as Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti, Kumar made his debut in Bollywood in 1957 with the film ‘Fashion’. 1961 release Kanch Ki Gudiya was his break through.
Most famous song from one of his films was inspired by a real-life incident. While songs like Desh Ki Dharti, and Har Khushi Hai Jahan were super hits from Manoj Kumar’s directorial debut Upkar, it was Kasme Vaade Pyaar Wafaa, which received major critical acclaim during the time. The song appears to find its spot on favourites list eve today.
There is an interesting story behind the song. The song was composed by Kalyanji and Anandji. The latter shared that the song is based on the story of a young banker. He said a young Indian banker working at Barclays Bank in Tanzania fell in love with a girl in India. As a token of his promise to return and marry her, he gave her a twenty-five paisa coin.
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While on a musical tour in Africa, Kalyanji-Anandji happen to meet the young banker, who requested them to convey his intentions to the girl back in India. But things were not as they expected. Upon returning to India, the duo received a wedding invitation card, and the bride was the girl the banker said about.
Anandji was accompanied by lyricist Indivar in a car. Both were trying to figure out how to break the news to their banker friend, as they knew it would hurt him deeply. Anandji’s leg was fractured during the time. He, in his philosophical mood, told Indivar, “Yeh kasme vaade, yeh pyaar wafaa—sab baatein hain; in baaton ka kuch bharosa nahin hai (This promises, love, and loyalty are just words; these things cannot be trusted)”.
The words caught up to lyricist Indivar, who jot down the entire song using Anandji’s words as philosophical.
Thing did not stop there. After reaching Anandji’s house, the duo plunged to another round of musings on ironies of life. One such thought was how, after death, one’s own son sets their body on fire (As per Hindu culture). This thought was captured in the line, “Tera apna khoon hi aakhir tujhko aag lagayega”.
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While snapping out of their musing, the time was 3:00 am. Indivar was afraid to go home given the time. So he stayed back. He left around 8:00 am next morning, and by that the song was completed.
The song was originally offered to celebrated veteran singer Kishore Kumar to sing. However, after listening to it, it was decided that Manna Dey would be an ideal choice keep up the depth of the song.
Coming back to the young banker in Tanzania, he would later became a well-known filmmaker. Ten years later, he came back to India, and went on to make a film, which became a cult classic. That young man was Chandra Barot, and the film was Don (1978).
The story is shared by Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal in their book Gata Rahe Mera Dil – 50 Classic Hindi Film Songs.
